A senior staff member at ICICI Lombard accidentally posted draft financial numbers on a personal WhatsApp status, prompting a quick removal and a warning to investors.
Incident Overview
On January 9, 2026, around 5:44 pm, a designated employee uploaded unaudited figures for the quarter and nine‑month period ending December 31, 2025, to their WhatsApp status. The post was visible for less than an hour before the employee deleted it.
Company’s Immediate Actions
- Prompt removal: The post was taken down within an hour of discovery.
- Regulatory notice: ICICI Lombard informed the stock exchanges about the slip, following good corporate‑governance practice.
- Internal inquiry: An investigation under SEBI’s insider‑trading rules and the company’s own policies has been launched.
- Board briefing: The incident will be discussed at the board meeting scheduled for January 13, 2026, where audited results will also be approved.
Investor Advisory
The firm warned investors not to rely on any numbers shared through the WhatsApp post. Those figures are still drafts, may change after audit, and have not been approved by the board.
Past Similar Mistakes
This is not the first time a company’s confidential draft has appeared on a personal WhatsApp status. Earlier, a senior executive at Hatsun Agro Products accidentally posted its unaudited quarterly numbers in a similar way, leading to a regulatory filing.
What Should Investors Do?
- Ignore the leaked draft figures and wait for the official audited results.
- Follow the company’s formal announcements on the stock exchange or its website.
- Consider the potential impact of the final numbers on the stock price once they are released.
- Stay aware of any further updates from the company’s board or audit committee.
Disclaimer
Remember, this is perspective, not prediction. Do your own research and consider your risk tolerance before making any investment decisions.